Resveratrol encapsulation in core-shell biopolymer nanoparticles: Impact on antioxidant and anticancer activities

Abstract Zein/pectin core-shell nanoparticles with average diameter of about 235 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.24 were developed to encapsulate, protect and deliver resveratrol. Biopolymer nanoparticles could be formed containing up to 10.2% (w/w) resveratrol, with a particle yield of 91.7% and a resveratrol loading efficiency of 77.9%. The nanoparticles formed were spherical and had good redispersibility in aqueous solutions. The encapsulated resveratrol had a higher in vitro antioxidant activity than free resveratrol as determined by DPPH·, ABTS + scavenging ability, and iron (III) reducing power. The encapsulated resveratrol also exhibited higher antiproliferative activity when tested using human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 cells than free resveratrol, with IC 50 values of 17.6 μg/mL (77.2 μM) and 25.6 μg/mL (112.0 μM) respectively. The colloidal form of resveratrol developed in this study may be particularly useful for application in functional foods and beverages, as well as in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products.